7th Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) Partnership Forum
West Africa Edition

Building Resilient Economies in Africa

Context

Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change, despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, droughts, flooding, and desertification are already devastating ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, and infrastructure across the continent. Average temperatures across Africa have already risen by about 1.5°C, faster than the global average, with some regions experiencing even greater increases.

Despite these challenges, Africa has significant potential for resilience-building through effective adaptation strategies that can safeguard its most vulnerable populations. However, these strategies require substantial adaptation finance.

Current climate adaptation finance patterns show that Africa is far from being on track to receive adequate financing. Based on nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of African countries, the region requires USD 53 billion per year between 2020 and 2035, or 2.5% of its GDP. At the current level of climate adaptation funding flows, Africa will only achieve USD 195 billion by 2035.

With many countries already grappling with high debt levels, innovative financing mechanisms are essential to unlock the resources needed for climate adaptation action.

Objectives
The West Africa AAAP Partnership Forum, held in Accra, Ghana, will showcase progress in climate- proofing development across key sectors in West Africa. The forum aims to gather insights from regional stakeholders to guide the focus areas of AAAP 2.0.

To achieve this, the session would address the following themes:

• Building Resilience in Agriculture and Food Security: Addressing the impacts of climate change on agriculture, food systems, and livelihoods, and highlighting successful AAAP adaptation solutions in West Africa.
• Advancing Infrastructure resilience and nature-based solutions: Showcasing AAAP measures to strengthen infrastructure resilience and improve the bankability of adaptation projects in West Africa.
• Strengthening Adaption innovation and Job creation: Showcasing AAAP’s progress in creating adaptation-relevant jobs for Africa’s youth.